Darrell Devonish, a 53-year-old resident of New York City, has been sentenced to 41 months in prison for wire fraud and money laundering. The sentencing was delivered by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson on May 8, 2025. The charges stem from Devonish's misuse of federal funds intended for feeding programs between 2017 and 2019.
Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus detailed that Devonish's non-profit organization, Rebuilding Better Communities, obtained $1,074,328.45 from the Pennsylvania Department of Education under federal feeding programs. Nearly $900,000 of these funds were diverted for personal expenses by Devonish. These included over $175,000 spent on jewelry, more than $45,000 on luxury vehicles such as a Mercedes S550 and a Jeep Wrangler, upwards of $75,000 on clothing and cosmetics, over $12,000 on liquor purchases, more than $100,000 on entertainment and travel including international trips, and more than $220,000 withdrawn in cash from ATMs.
Charmeka Parker from the USDA Office of Inspector General emphasized the importance of maintaining the integrity of USDA feeding programs like the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). "Those who are involved in fraud and abuse of USDA feeding programs will be investigated by our office to protect the integrity of these programs," she stated.
In addition to his prison sentence, Judge Wilson ordered Devonish to pay restitution amounting to $883,518.33.
The investigation was conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David C. Williams and Samuel S. Dalke prosecuted the case.
